Compare towns
Killingly vs Upton vs Shirley vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Killingly | Upton | Shirley | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
8,189 |
6,976Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.2Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.